2003 Toyota SIENNA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
105 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
54,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 77 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Latches/Locks/Linkages is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 105 complaints (10.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 21 | 20.0% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 8.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 5.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 9 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 7 |
| Tires | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
Latches/Locks/Linkages: 11; Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 9; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Structure:Body:Door: 7; Tires: 6; Structure:Body: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 27 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 27; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 28 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 17; 2004: 10; 2005: 7; 2006: 9; 2007: 6; 2008: 8; 2009: 7; 2010: 22; 2011: 6; 2012: 5; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Latches/Locks/Linkages leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000557 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)
UNSAFE DESIGN OF OVERDRIVE FEATURE ON TOYOTA SIENNA. EVERY TIME CAR IS PUT INTO DRIVE, IT DEFAULTS TO 'OVERDRIVE' MODE - WHICH MEANS IT IS FREE WHEELING WHENEVER DRIVER'S FOOT COMES OFF THE ACCELERATOR. NO ENGINE BRAKING!! TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS AND THE CAR ROLLS FREELY. THIS IS GROSSLY UNSAFE, PARTICULARLY IN TOWN DRIVING. TO GET ENGINE BRAKING, DRIVER MUST PUSH A BUTTON. THE DEFAULT SHOULD BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND: CAR SHOULD BE DESIGNED SO IT AUTOMATICALLY PROVIDES REGULAR, SAFER ENGINE BRAKING MODE, AND THE DRIVER SHOULD HAVE TO P…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000557 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017970 · 2003-05-01 (May 1, 2003)
THERE WAS A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE WHEEL WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017970 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022073 · 2003-06-03 (June 3, 2003)
STEERING IS MISALIGNED BECAUSE VEHICLE PULLS EXCESSIVELY TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT 6 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022073 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026612 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)
VEHICLE PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING. *MR THE STEERING WHEEL NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED, BOTH LOCK NUT(S) WERE LOOSE AND THE TIE ROD(S) WERE EQUALLY ADJUSTED 1/8 OF A TURN TO COMPENSATE FOR THE STEERING WHEEL, A FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED, THE TOE IN AND CAMBER WAS ADJUSTED, AND ALL FOUR TIRES WERE MOUNTED AND BALANCED. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026612 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015200 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
PROBLEMS WITH SLIDING DOOR, TRANSMISSION. MR. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015200 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094520 · 2004-09-28 (September 28, 2004)
WHILE IN PARK VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE. CONSUMER MANAGED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK....VEHICLE WA SIN PARK AND NOT RUNNING. CONSUMER WENT TO TURN OFF MOTOR FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AND VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE, AS CONSUMER BACKED OUT AFTER CHECKING THE GEAR SHIFT TO BE SURE IT WAS SRILL IN PARK POSITION. THE FRONT DOORKNOCKED CONSUMER DOWN WHEN HE TRIED TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE LYING ON THE GROUND THE FRONT WHEEL ON THE RIGHT LEFT S…
Owner-reported narrative. 103,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094520 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10314733 · 2010-02-26 (February 26, 2010)
I HAVE OWNED A 2003 TOYOTA SIENNA SINCE NEW. I HAD A EXTENDED 100K WARRANTY ON THIS VEHICLE. AT 80,000 MILES A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT WAS REPLACED, AT 82,000 MILES IT CAME ON AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED., THEN AT 94,000 MILES THE CAR STARTED STALLING AND WOULD NOT CRANK FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS IN MY HEAD, NOTHING WAS WRONG, IT CONTINUED TO DO THIS MORE OFTEN, AT 94,400 I TOLD IT BACK AND THE IDIOTS TOLD ME THE SAME THING, I FOUGHT WITH THIS CONDITION UNTIL IT FINAL EFFECTED THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR REVVED UP WIDE …
Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10314733 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10319618 · 2010-03-15 (March 15, 2010)
HERE IS A LIST OF MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS INDICATING MANUFACTURING DEFECTS ON MY TOYOTA SIENNA. THE CURRENT MODELS RECALLED BY TOYOTA MOTORS DO NOT COVER ALL VEHICLES WITH DEFECTS. BASED ON MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, TOYOTA MOTORS HAVE A LOT OF LYING EMPLOYEES IN THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. IN SHORT, TOYOTA MOTORS PUT THEIR BUSINESS INTEREST WAY AHEAD OF THE LIFE SAFETY OF AMERICAN PEOPLE. I HOPE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WILL CHECK THIS MANNER AND ENFORCE PROPER REGULATION. UPDATED 03/14/10 *BF *T…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10319618 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108307 · 2005-01-31 (January 31, 2005)
TOYOTA SIENNA 2003 BRAND NEW CAR THE BATTERY LEAK AND CAUSE THE RADIATOR DAMAGE DEALER STATE THAT THIS IS NOT A WARRATY REPAIR. THIS IS A WARRANTY REPAI AND THATS WHAT THE LEMON LAW SAYS . THE DEALER WHICH IS BAY RIDGE TOYOTA AND MAN WHO IS MANAGER TOM SCARPACCI SAYS THIS IS NOT WARRANTY REPAIR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 18,010 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108307 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11419267 · 2021-06-01 (June 1, 2021)
A plug-in battery charger failed. You may inspect it. It got hot and smoked, and I suppose was a fire hazard. The problem has not been confirmed nor inspected. There were no symptoms of the problem before the failure. - - - - I used the automotive charger to charge a battery after a light had been on overnight, discharging the battery. I removed the battery from the vehicle because the terminals might have been corroded. When I first put the charger on the battery it indicated full and did not start to recharge it, so I used jumper cables to c…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11419267 at NHTSA ↗